The Anambra State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, has taken steps towards the prosecution of persons who deny females their right to inherit property in the State.

The Attorney-General has consequently directed the Police to investigate complaints relating to such discriminatory practices and forward the relevant case files to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution.

Mr. Nweke disclosed this in a letter addressed to the Nigeria Police Force and personally signed by him, which was made available to journalists on Monday, 26 September 2026.

The Attorney-General noted that the practice of denying women and girls the right to inherit property on the basis of their gender constitutes an offence under Section 22 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2017 of Anambra State, and is punishable by up to four years' imprisonment.

“In the light of the foregoing, the Police are requested to ensure that your office thoroughly investigates all reported cases of gender-based disinheritance and transfers the case files to the Ministry of Justice for further action,” the Attorney-General stated.

The Ministry of Justice has designated its Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Unit to handle the prosecution of offenders under the law, alongside other cases involving domestic violence and sexual offences, as part of efforts to effectively combat the practice.

The Attorney-General further noted that, despite decisions of the Supreme Court declaring customs and practices that exclude females from inheriting property unconstitutional and illegal, some individuals and communities continue to engage in such discriminatory practices.

The State Government, through the Ministry of Justice, is therefore taking steps to ensure that persons who violate the rights of women and girls to inherit property are investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.